Driving unit for phonographs or the like



Oct. 19, 1926.

DRIVING UNIT FOR'PHONOGRAPHS OR THE LKE Filed August 5, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet l /Ww ATTORNEY .0a. A19, i926. 1,604,101

W` J. OLEARY DRIVING UNIT FOR PHONOGRAPHS OR THE LKE Filed August 5, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I l IN V EN TOR v *M1 WiWi/212221 Z/fg By E @im ATTORNEY oct. 19, 19261 y 1,604,101

w. J. GLEARY DRIVING UNIT FOR PHONOGRAPHS OR THE LIKE Filed August 5, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet I3 INVENTOR /W//z'dff/Jeafy 'WJ V gli@ ATTORNEY CII Patented Oct. 19, 1926A.

untreu STATES VJILLAM J'. OLEARY, OF MONTREAL, QUEBEC, CANADA.

DRIVING UNIT FOR FHONOGRAPHS 0R THE LIKE.

Application tiled August 5, 1924. Serial No. 730,306.

This invention relates to driving units,

and particularly to a driving unit having a construction which particularly adapts it for actuating the record table ot a phonograph sound recording machine, or the like.

In the construction of phonographs and sound recording machines it is desirable to mount the driving mechanism directly beneath the record table to produce a compact construction; and heretofore in the art the driving mechanism has generally been so mounted thaty there is rigid connection between the driving unit andthe record table, thus permitting undesired vibrations to be readily transmitted from the driving unit to the record and tone arm. Vith a driving unit which sets up relatively little vibration, such as the familiar spring motors or electric motors o the rotating armature type, this construction isV fairly satisfactory, though the vibrations transmitted vfrom the driving unit interfere somewhat with the recording or reproducing operation. Vibration motors such as disclosed in the United States patent to McDonald, 1,396,334 o t November 8, i921, are much less expensive to manufacture than the familiar typesA oit rotating armature electric motors, and hencel by their utilization drivingunits; for phonographs, sound recording machines, and theV like may be provided which have the usual advantages ot an electric drive, while being much less expensive than. those heretofore in use. However, motors ot this t-ype set up considerable vibration, and hence the usual motor mountings when used with this type of motor transmit so much vibration tothe record and tone arm that the operation obtained is not as satisfactory as when spring motors or electric motors of` the rotating armature type are employed?.

The principal` object` of the presentinvention is to provide a driving unit in which the motor mechanism is so mounted that the. apparatus withy which the driving unit is employed' is ett'ectually shielded rommot.or vibrations.

Another object is to provide, a substantially noiseless driving unit.

An important object otf the present invention is to providea motor construction which tacilitatesV economical and` effective lubrication ot all Vbearings etc., even though the motor is: completely enclosed.

Among the specific objects of the invention isthe provision ofgan inexpensive driving` unit suitable for actuating phonographs, sound recording apparatus, andthe like.

In. accordance with the above and other objects ot' the invention, an electric motor, preferably ot the vibration type, is suspended from an intermediate supporting meinber, in the form ot" an enclosing casing, by coil springs having a relatively high natural period of vibration. The enclosing casing is in turn adapted to be suspended directly beneath the record table ot a phonograph or the like by opposed coil springs having a relatively low natural period ofv vibration. This gives a construction in which the only vibrations that are transmitted with substantial strength from the motor tov the intermediate supporting member are of such a frequency that they will not be transmitted by the springs supporting the intermediate supporting member.` This intermediate supporting member being in the form of an enclosing casing the sound ot the motor is ettectually confined and is not transmitted to the outer air.

A vertical shaft tor connection to a record table is journaled by a bearing secured` in the top wall of the enclosing casing and is operatively connected with the motor solely by means of av felt coupling member, thus 'preventing vibrations trom` being transmitted from the motor to the shaft. An annular lubricant receiving cup embraces the shaft Where it emerges trom the enclosing casing, and` all partsot the motor which require lubrication are aligned; vertically beneath this cup, thus permitting them all to be lubricated by lubricant descending by gravity from the cup.

Figurel of the drawingsis a longitudinal vertical. sectional view showing` a phonograph driving unit embodying the present invention..

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 2-2 ot" Fig. 1 with the record. table omitted.

Figure Slis a transverse vertical sectional view taken. on theline 3-3 ot Figure l.

Figure 4: is a fragmentary perspective view showing a motor and enclosing casing mounted in accordance with the present invention.

Referring to Figures l, 2, and 3` ot the drawings, a tuning fork l is arranged to be vibratedby anv electromagnet 2 and to aclit) tuate a. transmission band f3, thereby rotat- Y ing pulley'tV mounted on hollow vertical stud or shaft 5 which is threaded into base member 6. The uni-directional driving of a pulley by means of a transmission band actuated by a. vibrating tuning fork is old in the art and, per se, forms no part of the present invention. The theory of operation of motors which incorporate such construction is discussed in U. S. Patent to OLeary 1,323,250, Jan. 6, 1925, and in U. S. Patent to Ramsey 1,379,212, May 24, 1921. Seated against a gasket on the upper edge of pulley 4 is a flaring cup 7 held in place by screws which have their heads sunk in two flat arcuate metal pieces 9 positioned in the bottom of the cup. One of these screws is shown in Fig. 1 and is designated by numeral 8. Each j of the metal pieces 9 has an upstanding end 10, shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. The upstanding ends 10 are simply flat pieces of strap metal which project upwardly from the bottom of hollow cup 7 and hein a plane which includes the aXis of shaft 5. These ends are 180 degrees apart and are located in slots in a felt coupling member 11 positioned Vin cup 7. A vertical shaft 12 to which may be attached a record table 13 passes through the center of felt coupling 11 and has affixed thereto a member having depending portions 14 which engage in slots in the felt coupling, which slots are located midway between the slots occupied by the upstanding portions 10 that are rigidly associated with pulley 4.

The motor mechanism comprising the tuning fork 1 and pulley 4 is positioned within an enclosing casing consisting of an upper .section 15 and a lower section 16, and is supported from the upper section solely by means of coil springs 17. This enclosing casing acts as intermediate supporting member, and is in turn supported by opposed coil springs 18 arranged as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. Springs 17 are small and have a natural period of vibration which is relatively high, while springs 18 are large and have a natural period of vibration which is relatively low. This gives a relationshipI whereby vibrations of a frequency which are transmitted with appreciable strength by springs 17 are not so transmitted by .springs 18; and hence onlycertain vibrations are transmitted from the motor to the intermediate supporting member (the enclosing casing) and these particular vibrations are not capable of transmission with appreciable strength by springs 18.

The shaft 12 is journaled near its upper end in a bearing 19 Asecured in the upper section 15 of the enclosing casing, and isprovided at its lower end with a thrust bearing 2O carried by a Ushaped member 21 depending from section 15 of the enclosing casing.

Shaft 12. thus rotatablyV mounted has its lower end passing through, but spaced from is no rigid path for the transmission of vibrations from the motor mechanism to this shaft. This construction coupled with the spring mounting just described eiectually shields the record table and other portions of the apparatus from vibrations of the motor mechanism.

Vertical shaft 12 carries a gear 22 meshing with a worm 23 which transmits motion to a fly-ball governor 24 of well known construction. As the speed of shaft 12 increases governor plate 25 moves to the left and frictionally engages an adjustable member 26 of material such as rawhide thereby regulating the speed of shaft 12.

An annular lubricant receiving cup 30 is formed adjacent the upper end of bearing 19 and is accessible by merely removing the record table 13. VLiquid lubricant placed in this cup descends through bearing 19, runs onto gear 22 and worm 23, is collected by cup 7 and absorbed by felt coupling 11, from which it seeps through the bearing of pulley 4 and is caught by cup 31 which acts as a reservoir to keep at least a portion of the engaging surface between pulley 4 and stud 5 submerged in lubricant. A portion of the lubricant absorbed by coupling' 11 runs directly down the lower portion of shaft 12 and lubricates the thrust bearing "n 20. It is seen that this construction facilitates economical and effective lubrication of all parts requiring lubrication without access being had to the interior of the enclosing casing and even without access being had to the compartment in which the driving unit is mounted. V

The casing enclosing the motor mecha` nism is preferably made of a good heat conducting material such as aluminum in order to readily conduct heat developed by the motor; and to aid in absorption and radiation of the heat by the casing both its interior and exterior surfaces are finished in dull black.

It is realized that the present invention may be practiced in forms other than those herein disclosed and hence it is desired that this disclosure be considered as illustrative, and not in the limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention. what I claim is:

1. A phonograph driving unit comprising an enclosing casing, means to resiliently suspend said casing from a support, resilient supporting means within said casing, a vibration motor supported within said casing byv saidsupporting means, a vertical shaft having'o'ne end within said casing.` a record table supportedV on the `other end of said shaft, and a vibration deadening coupling connecting said shaftwith said vibration Y motor.

2. A phonograph 4driving unit comprising stud 5 as shown in Fig. 3 and hence therean enclosing casing, means to resiliently suslll() lim pend said casing from a support, resilient supporting means within said casing, a vibration motor supported within said casing by said supporting means, a vertical shaft having` its lower end within said casing, a thrust bearing for the lower end of said shaft, a record table attached to the upper end of said shaft, and a vibration deadening coupling connecting said shaft to said vibration motor.

3. A driving unit comprising an enclosing casing, said casing consisting of an upper section and a lower section; motor mechanism supported from said upper section; a shaft having one end projecting through the upper section into said casing; a U-shaped member attached to said upper section; a thrust bearing for said shaft carried by said U-shaped member; and means operatively connecting said shaft with said motor mechanism.

4. A driving unit comprising an enclosing casing consisting of an upper section and a lower section; motor mechanism resiliently supported from said upper section, said motor mechanism comprising an annular rotating member; a hollon7 member forming a pivot for said rotating member; a shaft journaled in said upper section and having one end extending into but spaced from said hollow member; and a vibration deadening coupling operatively connecting said shaft with said rot-ating member.

5. In a phonograph, an intermediate supporting member, resilient means for supporting said intermediate supporting member free from rigid contact therewith, a motor resiliently supported from said intermediate supporting member also free from rigid contact therewith, a shaft adapted to rotate a record table, and a Vibration deadening coupling operatively connecting said shaft with said motor.

6. In a phonograph, an intermediate supporting member, opposed spring means for supporting said intermediate supporting member free from rigid contact therewith, a motor, resilient means supporting said motor from said intermediate lsupporting means also free from rigid contact therewith, a shaft adapted to rotate a record table, and a vibration deadening coupling operatively connecting said shaft with said motor.

7. In a phonograph, an intermediate sup porting member, springs for supporting said intermediate supporting member, a motor, and springs supporting said motor from said intermediate supporting member, said motor supporting springs and said intermediate member supporting springs having diHerent natural periods of vibrationeh 8. In a phonograph, an intermediate supporting member, springs for supporting said intermediate supporting member, a motor, springs supporting said motor from said intermediate supporting member, said motor supporting springs and said intermediate member supporting springs having diderent natural periods of vibration, a shaft adapted to rotate a record table, and a vibration deadening coupling operatively connecting said shaft with said motor.

9. In combination; a driving member; a driven member; a bearing for one of said members; and a lubricant retaining coupling connecting said driving and said driven'l members, said coupling being adapted to feed lubricant to said bearing.

10. In combination, a driving member, a driven member, a bearing for one of said members, a coupling connecting said members, a cup embracing said coupling, and a passage leading from said cup to said bearing to conduct lubricant thereto.

l1. In combination, a driving member,a driven member, a bearing for one of said members, a coupling connecting said members, and positioned above said bearing, a cup embracing said coupling, and a passage leading from said cup to said bearing to conduct lubricant thereto.

12. In combination, a vertical shaft;v a pulley mounted on said shaft, said pulley having a Vertical annular groove in its lower edge; and a cup concentric with said shaft, the sides of said cup extending into said groove whereby said cup is adapted to hold lubricant to submerge at least a portion of said shaft.

13. In combination, a motor mechanism; a casing enclosing said motor mechanism, a shaft adapted to be driven by said motor mechanism and extending to the exterior of said casing, and a liquid lubricant receptacle exterior to said casing, the bearings of said shaft and said motor mechanism being vertically aligned beneath said receptacle to receive lubricant descending by gravity from said receptacle.

14. A driving unit comprising an enclosing casing. a shaft projecting upwardly from the interior of said casing, motor mechanism within said casing operatively connected to said shaft, and a cup on top of said casing adapted to receive lubricant and discharge it adjacent said shaft, the bearings of said shaft and motor being aligned vertically beneath the point of discharge from said cup whereby lubricant deposited in said cup will descend by gravity and lubricate all of the bearings.

WILLIAM J. OLEARY.

lOO 

